Zika Study: Infected Monkey Becomes Immune To Virus, 3 More Babies Born With Defects

A new study found that a Zika infected monkey became immune to virus, and there are still mysteries about the virus that should be answered.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison and Duke University researchers collaborated in a study that was published on Tuesday, June 28, in the journal Nature Communications, involved monkeys infected with the Zika virus as the subject. The study found that the monkeys who were infected with Zika became immune to the virus after a few weeks, which also happened humans that the virus also lasted longer in pregnant monkeys only, not to non-pregnant ones, Time reported.

Researchers said, during observation, non-preggy monkeys were not infected by the virus after about 10 days of getting infected, however, the pregnant monkeys got virus in their bloodstreams between 30 to 70 days.

Meanwhile, three more American babies reported born with defects, which link to Zika virus, RT reported. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the report and they said the defects are linked to the Zika. Aside from that, the agency that lost pregnancy was also linked to the virus.

Currently, there are seven seven babies with microcephaly born in the US, and five lost pregnancies either from miscarriage, stillbirth or termination as of June 23, according to health agency's online Zika pregnancies registry.

The spread of Zika has caused alarm throughout Americas since the number of cases of birth defect microcephaly reported increases. The defect was linked to the mosquito-carrier virus Zika, and it was reported in Brazil.

Zika is a disease caused by a virus transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, or commonly known as Yellow Fever mosquitoes. The symptoms of this disease include, headache, fever, joint pain, and conjunctivitis. As a matter of fact, the symptoms are similar to dengue and chikungunya. The virus often lasts in the blood of an infected person.